The recent statement by the Hon. Premier of Western Province saying the State Government needs more research and cost analysis to pursue Statehood is undermining the dreams and visions of the past Western leaders.
This is according to a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Ward 3 Nusa Simbo, Hon. Gideon Tuke.
Speaking to the Solomon Star Gizo Gideon Tuke said the people and Provincial Governments have been victimized as a result of the centralized system of our government.
“I recommend that the Premier and his executive to get a copy of the Federal Constitution which was completed and handed to the Prime Minister in 2018, and the various related reports to read through and release any statements thereafter,” he said.
He adds as a leading Province in the Statehood agenda, we need to have a collective decision through Assembly meeting before releasing any statement to reflect the minds and wish of the legislatures and people of Western Province regarding Statehood.
“The government of Solomon Islands for the past 10 years have spent millions of dollars to prepare the Federal Constitution with its related costs analysis and so forth through wider consultations both in the provinces, stakeholders and internationally.
“We need to start with the transitional period with those provinces that are ready and others can follow suit as and when they graduate,” Tuke added.
MPA for Ward 7, Hon. Rence Sore further stated that the Provincial Government Act 1997 recentralized much functions of Provincial Governments that were dissolved by the principal law, namely, Provincial Government Act 1981.
“With national unity at the back of our minds, the most viable political options that are open to us are:
“1. Review the PGA 1997 and revert back to PGA 1981
2. Purse Federalism and Statehood System of Government in the country.
“On the better side of things, these politically viable options are rooted in the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement Policy Statements,” Sore explained.
“As Member of the Western Provincial Assembly, I pledge to vigorously pursue statehood for Western Solomons in the Assembly with facts and evidences of support from the people of Western Province – in the next 4 years” he added.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star Gizo
